Exetel would like to clarify a matter concerning mobile data usage which is causing confusion among some customers.
For all customers using the Exetel mobile service via the Optus network on capped plans or per minute plans, only the following APN's are valid for the data inclusions.

INTERNET
OPTUSWAP
YesINTERNET (for iPhones)

If any other APN is used a different and higher data usage rate is incurred, resulting in excessive and expensive data charges being billed.
These data charges will be payable over and above any monthly CAP amount. Ie the data will not be included in the Data Inclusion component of the CAP.

ExetelVoice wrote:Exetel would like to clarify a matter concerning mobile data usage which is causing confusion among some customers

It has to be recognised that some of the customers that are/were "confused" were so because they were incorrectly advised to use other APN's by Exetel staff.
I appreciate that mistakes happen with new services being introduced but it should be acknowledged that some of us weren't actually confused...

ExetelVoice wrote:Understood. Unfortunately the APN possibilities/parameters were never clearly defined to Exetel by Optus - at the outset.

That's good then - Exetel can beat up Optus and get relief from these charges that have been made on customers who relied on the advice they recieved
Sounds like Optus have some explaning (and crediting) to do

The weird thing is in my case I was using the "wrong" APN in December (from the start of my CAP19 service) and I did not get charged for any data for December - yet I did in January - so something screwy is happening in the Optus systems that pass on charges to Exetel for data usage based on the APN being used

If my phone number is only supposed to use "internet" then Optus, or Exetel depending where the connection is being authorised, should not allow it to use "exetel1". It is that simple. Also makes things much easier to troubleshoot, albeit maybe more frustrating when nothing works.

If my phone number is only supposed to use "internet" then Optus, or Exetel depending where the connection is being authorised, should not allow it to use "exetel1".

We have asked Optus if something can be done about this but it won't change the fact that the APN is actually customizable (it is not a locked setting) and some phones browse for connectable APN's (CONNECT for instance).

Since you are responding to this thread, can you have a look at ticket 3631713 and various emails to the helpdesk last night and what looks like a botched WM-A/CAP35 plan swap. "internet" doesn't work, "exetel1" does, and then there is the Global Roaming issue what I'd like an answer on.

Since you are responding to this thread, can you have a look at ticket 3631713 and various emails to the helpdesk last night and what looks like a botched WM-A/CAP35 plan swap. "internet" doesn't work, "exetel1" does, and then there is the Global Roaming issue what I'd like an answer on.

I have directly instructed support to look at the APN issue for you.
Not sure what the global roaming 'issue' is but we will be enabling this function again soon for voice roaming, not data roaming.

Since you are responding to this thread, can you have a look at ticket 3631713 and various emails to the helpdesk last night and what looks like a botched WM-A/CAP35 plan swap. "internet" doesn't work, "exetel1" does, and then there is the Global Roaming issue what I'd like an answer on.

I have directly instructed support to look at the APN issue for you.
Not sure what the global roaming 'issue' is but we will be enabling this function again soon for voice roaming, not data roaming.

Thanks, Pav contacted me.

I don't blame you for restricting data roaming, it seems like telcos regard this as a major profit center.

Does voice roaming include SMS roaming? All I really want it to be able to receive SMS from at least my bank.